Thermometer



S. S. BAKER THERMOMETER Sept. 21, 1943.

Filed July 31, 1940 \NvEN-rorz SAMUEL 5. BAKER HTTORNET! Patented Sept 21, 1943 Y THERMOMETER Samuel S. Baker, Webster Groves, Mo., assignor to American Thermometer Company, St. Louis, Mo" a corporation of Delaware Application July 31, 1940, Serial No. 348,668

1 Claim.

This invention relates to thermometers and more particularly to thermometers of the tube and bulb type for testing the temperature of an oven and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide a portable device which will be self-supporting in use.

Another object of the invention is to completely protect the fragile tube and bulb from breakage during use and in transportation or storage.

Another object of the invention is to reduce to a minimum the time required to test oven temperatures.

Another object of the invention is to increase the accuracy of thermometers of this general type.

Another object of the invention is tofacilitate reading of the temperatures in'dicated by thethermometer.

Another object of the invention is to construct the device of few parts requiring minimum care and attention and being economical to manufacture and purchase.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention shown in the position of use, and

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view but showing the device when not in use.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the usual tube (0 and bulb l2 of the thermometer are shown in Fig. 1 as being supported by spaced clips it against the inner face iii of a cover member i8. The cover member l8 may be formed of a single rectangular sheet of metal or other suitable material which has its side edges 20 bent substantially perpendicular to the inner face [6, forming achannel section. The tube and bulb I2 are together somewhat shorter in overall length than the cover member l8, but the bulb and the adjacent portion of the tube III are removed from contact with the inner face i6 by the provision of a cut-away portion 22 in the cover member [8 exposing these parts. The opposite end of the cover member i8 may be provided with a lip 24 extending over the end of tube in and forming a protective guard therefor. Preferably, the lip 24 extends across the median portion only of the cover leaving open portions 25 on each side thereof.

Suitable indicia are provided for the thermometer comprising graduation lines 26 and numerals 28 extending between the spaced clips l4 on the inner face IS. The indicia may be marked in any suitable manner, a preferred method being by etching them into' the metal of the cover member l8, then filling the impressions with a black lacquer which is afterwards baked. The described method results in a scale possessing a high degree of legibility under the conditions for 'which the device is designed to be used.

A slot 30 is formed in each of the side edges 20 adjacent the cut-away portion 22 and extends at an angle from the outer portion thereof to the inner face it of the cover member l8. These slots 30 are'located opposite one another and are of similar length and angularity. The side edges are further provided with a pair of buttons 32 which project slightly beyond the surface of the channel section at the. end having the lip 24 thereon.

A base member 34 is provided for the device and may also be made of metal or other suitable material in channel section form as in the case of the cover member 88. In this instance, the

- side edges 36 are of substantially the same height as the edges of the cover member but the inner face 38 is sumciently wider than the inner face of the cover to permit the latter to slide within the base member 3%. This construction provides the device with a closed position as shown in Fig. 2.

'The cover member i8 is secured to the base member 34' in a manner permitting both pivotal and longitudinal slidable movement of the one with respect to the other. To this end, the side edges 36 of the base member 34 are provided with oppositely disposed pins 40 located substantially midway between the ends of the base member and in close proximity to the outer portions of the side edges. The slots 30 are adapted to engage with these pins 40 and provide the desired movements while preventing undesired detachment of the base from the cover.

The end of the base member 34 which is adjacent the lip 24 when the device is in closed position is left open to accommodate the lip. The opposite end of the base member, however, is provided with a hood 42 which accommodates the open end of the cover when the device is in closed position and serves to support the cover when in open position. The hood 42 may be formed by bending over a portion of material of the base portion 34 left for this purpose, or

a separate section may be secured thereto if desired.

In order to provide free circulation of the heat currents around the bulb it. the base member 84 is provided with a plurality of apertures 44 therein, located in the median portion of the inner face II where the bulb is located in the open position-oi the device.

Due to this construction the cover member may be raised and retained-in open position by means 01 the pin and slot engagement, together with the support provided by the edge the hood 4:. The thermometer is then in an upright position and can easily be read. The list base construction permits the device to be slid along the shelf. or other projection in an oven and provides a stable support against tipping. The large number 01 apertures provided in the base member allows the thermometer to take advantage of numerous convection currents circu-' lating in the oven and provide an accurate indicate oi the temperature. Moreover, the cutaway portion cooperating with the apertures provide, in efiect, the same conditions as would prevail it the tube and bulb were suspended freely in the oven and subjected to complete exposure to heat currents from all directions. Accurate and speedy readings are thus secured.

When the test is completed the device may be removed easily from the oven and closed for transportation or storage until again required.

It will be observed that a single movement oi the hand will serve to pivot the cover member on the base and then slide the i'ormer under the closed end to the position shown in Fig. 2. The uttons on the cover member irictionally engage asaaees the side edges oi the and lock the members together. Due to the channel section protecting the sides, and the lip and hood protectingboth.

ends, there is no opportunity for other articles being carried or stored in the same place to enter the device and damage the bulb and tube. These fragile elements are housed within a-substantially closed box-like construction and are thus adequately protected. It will iurther be observed that the lip permits ready opening of the device by inserting the fingers on either side thereof for this purpose.

I claim: 4

A combined case and stand for a thermometer having a bulb, comprising a base member of channel section, a hood extending across the channel and closing one end of said base member. a plurality of apertures in said base member for admitting heat currents to the bulb, a cover member oi channel section adapted to fit within said base member. a lip projecting from the end oi the cover opposite said hood and forming a partial closure for the opposite end of said base member, a cutaway portion in the end 01' said cover opposite said lip within which the bulb may be located, and a slot in one 01' said members coacting with a pin in the other for causing both pivotal and sliding movement therebetween to open and closed position, said members forming a box-like structure in the closed position with the open end 0! the cover within said hood.

SAMUEL s. BAKER. 

